Forums > Areas > North Pacific Region

Xay

Mar 25, 2009, 7:02 PM

Post #1 of 6 (2770 views)

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question about los cabo beaches

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does anyone know if the beaches are own by the resorts that are backed onto them or is it public property or government property? for example the riu palce!

Marlene / Moderator

Mar 25, 2009, 11:01 PM

Post #2 of 6 (2754 views)

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Re: [Xay] question about los cabo beaches

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The beaches in Mexico are in Federal jurisdiction. They cannot be blocked off to the public.

(This post was edited by Marlene on Mar 25, 2009, 11:02 PM)

Ustlach

Mar 30, 2009, 2:03 PM

Post #3 of 6 (2705 views)

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Re: [Marlene] question about los cabo beaches

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I beg to differ. The beach may be public, technically, but you cannot always get onto them without paying for the privilege or without some major jumping through hoops.

My daughter got married on the beach in Cabo San Lucas, and the beach was very private, part of a highly-secured, gated community of a very few wealthy Mexicans and a whole bunch of even wealthier gringos...called Pedrigal.

The people whom my daughter hired to make all the arrangements for the wedding (the official who performed the ceremony, the documents, the blood test, etc.) also made the arrangements to get the wedding party through the gates and on to the beach.

Ultimately I guess it depends which beach you are talking about. Most of the beaches where the big hotels are you can walk on to, if you can find a way in and if you don't look too suspicious. My timeshare was at Finisterra and you certainly would have no problem getting through there and on to the beach as long as you looked like someone who belonged in the hotel and you came in through the front gate on foot without a lot of beach paraphenalia..

If you drive up in some piece of junk chatara, with coolers of beer and some hamacas, with anyone who even looks Mexican, you are going to get stopped and turned back.

Marlene / Moderator

Mar 30, 2009, 3:02 PM

Post #4 of 6 (2695 views)

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Re: [GringoinSonora] question about los cabo beaches

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It's true that hotels and gated communities are private and can certainly restrict access of strangers to their own property. That's a bit different than restricting access to the beach, something which violates Federal law in Mexico. The beach is Federal property, as mentioned. Specifically, the Federal Zone is the 20 meters above the Mean High Tide Line, and while it can be leased by individuals or companies, those who choose to lease this stretch of land (usually those who own the land behind the Mean High Tide Line) cannot obstruct public access to this property nor can they build permanent structures on this property (presumably meaning fences or walls).

Living in Mazatlan, we do have occasion to go to the beach now and again, but we have never felt the need to enter via someone's property. We have miles of beaches with easy public access. In front of restaurants, there is generally a small charge for sitting in their chairs and tables, and it's no problem if you bring your cooler of food and drinks, and don't order from them. We have never been made to feel unwelcome, instead, restaurants and hotels use it as a sales opportunity. We usually order something to snack on, and feel it's more than fair since a clean bathroom awaits inside! It's a typical Mexican Sunday to see anything on wheels pull up (I don't know what a "piece of junk chatara" is) and people bringing umbrellas, coolers, kids, pets, extended family, etc to the beach. In Semana Santa we have seen people bringing tall potted plants to the beach to use as shade trees. :-) People can camp on the beaches as well, and we've done this on occasion. The beaches of Mexico belong to the people. The beach vendors can walk unrestricted selling their wares along the beach in front of even the ritziest of properties. The Federal services have jurisdiction, and patrol them during busy times.

ncferret

Mar 31, 2009, 8:37 AM

Post #5 of 6 (2674 views)

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Re: [Marlene] question about los cabo beaches

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Mazatlan and Cabo are quite different in the way the beaches layout. Marlene is correct, all Mexican beaches are public. However, there are sections of beach in Cabo where you do not have beach access as the only access is by water or through private property. Here is a great little link with more detailed information.

Xay

Apr 2, 2009, 8:01 AM

Post #6 of 6 (2621 views)

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Re: [ncferret] question about los cabo beaches

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thanks ncferrat that was one awesome link thank you very much!!